In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 10 March 2023.
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Nehawu vows to intensify public sector wage strike The Citizen reports that the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has vowed to intensify its public service strike until its demands are met by government. The union’s leadership on Sunday afternoon held a media briefing in Johannesburg on the collapsed wage negotiations in the public sector. Public servants affiliated with the union have been staging countrywide protests since last Monday over a wage dispute with government. The union is demanding a 10% wage increase, while government is offering 4.7%. The strike action, which has been interdicted by the Labour Court after the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) approached the court, has seen violent protests at essential health and other government facilities. At least four people have died as a result of the strike action, according to a preliminary report by the national Department of Health. The Labour Appeal Court on Friday heard Nehawu‘s appeal application on the enforcement order of the interdict by the DPSA. Judgment has been reserved for Monday. Nehawu general secretary Zola Saphetha on Sunday accused government of misleading and confusing workers on its 4.7% wage offer. He claimed government was offering public servants an “insulting” 0.5% salary increase as the 4.7% offer included a 4.2% cash gratuity that workers have been receiving. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thapelo Lekabe at The Citizen. Read too, ‘There is no turning back,’ vows Nehawu as violent wage strike continues, at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Nehawu says government must take the blame for lives lost during wage strike EWN reports that Zola Saphetha, general secretary of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu), said on Sunday that government must take responsibility for any lives lost during the current strike action, not the union. He was speaking at a media briefing in Johannesburg, where the union also vowed to intensify its strike action on Monday, as the impasse over salary increases looks set to continue. Health Minister Joe Phaahla made the claims of lives lost while at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital during a site visit at the height of the strike last Wednesday. However, Saphetha said the union had acted legally and that the allegations were misplaced. Some staff on duty at affected hospitals claimed to have been intimidated by striking workers affiliated with Nehawu. Emergency teams were also reported to have been unable to respond to some emergency calls as access to some facilities was blockaded. A preliminary report by the Department of Health found that the standoff resulted in deaths. "There's no conclusive finding that points to us," said Saphetha. Instead, he placed the blame squarely on the government. The union confirmed the strike would enter its second week on Monday, saying it would not stand to be bullied by the government. The union wants a 10% wage increase, while government has offered 4.7%. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nokukhanya Mntambo at EWN Soldiers deployed at Ekurhuleni hospital on Monday amid continuing Nehawu strike News24 reports that soldiers were on Monday deployed outside Thelle Mogoerane Hospital in Vosloorus amid the Nehawu wage protests that have disrupted operations at hospitals countrywide. Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department and the SAPS manned roadblocks leading to the hospital. Vehicles and pedestrians were being searched before entering the facility. Some vehicles were turned back by officers. The protest severely affected the hospital, as the maternity ward was reportedly closed last week. Health minister Dr Joe Phaahla said last week that four people were believed to have lost their lives "in a manner that could be directly attributed to the strike". Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
City Power technicians held hostage, threatened during blitz on Friday in Lenasia over unpaid electricity bills News24 reports that on Friday City Power was forced to abandon its blitz to cut off electricity connections due to unpaid bills in Lenasia, where it is owed more than R1.2 billion by customers. Three technicians were held hostage soon after the team disconnected Lens Station Shopping Complex, which has an outstanding bill of more than R3 million. City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said a group of people arrived shouting insults and threats of violence before they held the technicians hostage, but eventually let them go. He indicated that the Johannesburg Metro Police Department advised City Power to abandon proceeding with the operation because it was increasingly clear the safety of the technicians could not be guaranteed. While the violence and threats shook the City Power team, Mangena said the disconnection drive would continue in Lenasia as more police escorts would be deployed. "These drives have been necessitated by the culture of non-payment by some customers in the Lenasia area, which has resulted in the SDC collecting low revenues in comparison to the population," Mangena indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tshepiso Motloung at News24 DA calls for Gauteng education department to review schools’ safety strategy after spate of violent crimes News24 reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) has requested the Gauteng Department of Education to review its schools' safety strategy following the recent spate of violent crimes in schools. According to a written reply by the Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, to the DA, there were 40 stabbings, 10 shootings and 16 other violent crimes involving learners and teachers in the province in the past five years. In addition, the department recorded six incidents involving gangsterism. A total of 45 incidents occurred because of learner-on-learner violence, one due to teacher-to-teacher violence, six due to learner-on-teacher violence, and four incidents resulting from teacher-on-learner violence. Outsiders also killed eight learners and four teachers. According to DA Gauteng spokesperson for education Khume Ramulifho, schools are unsafe and there is an urgent need to review the current schools' safety strategy. Regarding convictions for the crimes, the department responded that, to date, there was only one conviction known to it. "The DA proposes that MEC Chiloane engage Gauteng MEC for Community Safety and Security, Faith Mazibuko, to ensure that school safety is prioritised and these incidents are investigated to ensure justice for the victims and their families," Ramulifho put forward. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cebelihle Mthethwa at News24. Lees ook, ‘Gautengse skole g’n veilige hawe’, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Eskom chair warns it will take 18 months to two years to fix load shedding Fin24 reports that Eskom board chairperson Mpho Makwana says it will take 18 months to two years to fix load shedding, but there is no "shortcut", and South Africans need to play a role in terms of reducing demand. Speaking during an interview with Newzroom Afrika on Friday, Makwana said Eskom expected to get to an energy availability factor (EAF) of 70% by the end of March 2025. Makwana's comments came shortly after newly appointed Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said he was not yet willing to commit to a date for ending load shedding. "Load shedding, and I want to emphasise [this] on national TV, we are going to resolve it… [but] it is highly irresponsible to just shoot from the hip and say this date, that date," Ramokgopa stated in an interview with the SABC on Thursday evening. In response to a question from Newzroom Afrika, Mawkana said: "We can't give you a 'how bad' answer today, for the simple reason that the week-to-week forecast of load shedding is shifting as we improve, [for example] where there [are] parts replacements, where there [are] the different maintenance schedules that are ensuring that other units are coming back on-stream. It's going to be a tough winter for sure, given that we've said to South Africans already, and I'm going to repeat that, we are going to take 18 months to two years to fix load shedding. It's very clear, there is no shortcut. Read the full original of the report in the above regard compiled by Karl Gernetzky at Fin24 Electricity minister says it's 'highly irresponsible' to predict when loadshedding will end News24Wire reports that newly appointed Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says government will be ambitious in its plans to stop loadshedding, but he is not yet ready to say when that is expected to happen. "Loadshedding, and I want to emphasise [this] on national TV we are going to resolve it… [but] it is highly irresponsible to just shoot from the hip and say this date, that date," Ramokgopa indicated in an interview with the SABC on Thursday. SA experienced over 200 days of loadshedding last year, and a continuous stretch of 68 days this year, thus far. Ramokgopa said he would come back to "the people of the country" with an answer after working with Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, other ministers in the Cabinet, municipalities and business. In January, Mantashe told eNCA that it would take between six to 12 months. Four days later Gondongwana told Reuters that in "12-18 months we will be able to say loadshedding is a thing of the past". When asked if he would resolve loadshedding before the 2024 general elections, or face the ANC accusing him of "failing", Ramokgopa said that he was not going to be "expedient". He added: "We are going to be ambitious, [but] we are going to be realistic. Some of things I will be saying to the general public will be unpalatable. I am sure everyone listening to you wants me to say 'on X date loadshedding will be done'. I am saying give me an opportunity … we will come back to you." Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News Western Cape appoints former Eskom executive to tackle energy issues in the province Mining Weekly reports that Western Cape Premier Alan Winde indicated following his last meeting with André de Ruyter, when the former Eskom CEO painted a bleak picture of SA’s energy situation, that the province has roped in former Eskom executive Alwie Lester to help tackle the crisis. In an interview with Polity, Winde said his province already knew in 2022 that the energy crisis would worsen in SA by 2023. The Western Cape accordingly plans to inject R1-billion towards energy over the next three years. Plans are already underway to migrate places like Khayelitsha and Atlantis, off Eskom’s grid and onto the City’s grid. Discussing newly appointed Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Winde said his party has been against the move because there were already two cabinet ministers in the energy sphere. Winde suggested the appointment of an energy expert rather than another minister. However, noting that he had worked with Ramokgopa during the new minister’s previous role as of Head of Investment and Infrastructure, Winde wished him well in his new position. He said he has already spoken with Ramokgopa to schedule a meeting to discuss the Western Cape’s energy plans and how it could benefit other provinces. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly
NUM backs Gwede Mantashe on his pro-coal stance Mining Weekly reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has expressed its support for Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe’s pro-coal stance, alleging “coercion” is being employed to move the country away from the carbon-intensive fuel, driven by an “anti-fossil fuel agenda”. As he has done on numerous occasions, Mantashe reaffirmed his strong pro-coal convictions most recently at the Africa Energy Indaba, held in Cape Town, on 7 March. According to the NUM, SA has an abundance of coal reserves and it is “very irresponsible” to campaign against the use of coal. In a statement on Friday, the union said it was opposed to the R131-billion offered to SA by developed nations to accelerate the closure of coal mines and coal-fired power stations. “The closure of the power stations in Mpumalanga must never be unnecessarily rushed, as it will have devastating socioeconomic impact,” the NUM stated. The union added that “coal mines must be left alone” and that “South Africa needs to start building environment-friendly power stations”. It argued that there were different ways in which “coal can be made clean”, such as carbon capture and filtration. While claiming it was “not opposed to renewable energy”, the NUM said SA must continue following the Integrated Resource Plan to implement mixed energy. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly
Much at stake in ConCourt case over retrospective changes in pension fund payout rules BL Premium reports that a legal challenge before the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) aims to stop pension funds making retrospective changes in their terms that can affect payout rates. The central question debated before the apex court revolves around provisions of the Pension Funds Act and pension fund rules in general, and whether, after a pension fund amends its rules, a fund can act according to these changes despite not registering the new rules. The applicant’s legal team, in arguments heard in early March, also raised concern about whether a retrospective amendment of a rule affects accrued benefits. The case arose because the applicant, Pandelani Mudau, claims his rights were infringed when a retrospective decision by his fund minimised his retirement benefits. Mudau, a former employee of the Vhembe District Municipality, was a member of the Municipal Employees Pension Fund. He resigned on 31 May 2013, and became entitled to withdrawal benefits from the fund in terms of its then rules. The initial rules indicated that on resignation he would be entitled to three times his contributions plus interest. However, in June 2013, after the fund was warned in an actuarial report that it would not meet its future liabilities, it amended the withdrawal benefit scheme. Instead of three times, the benefit would be one-and-a-half. The amended rule was applied retrospectively from 1 April, almost two months before Mudau’s resignation. According to the Institute of Retirement Funds Africa, the ConCourt’s decision could lead to a “radical change in the established legal position” in which funds operate, and “threaten the stability” of many funds. Judgment was reserved. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tauriq Moosa at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Department of Military Veterans director-general Irene Mpolweni suspended The Citizen reports that the Ministry of Defence and Military Veterans confirmed over the weekend that Irene Mpolweni, Director-General (DG) of the Department of Military Veterans, had been placed on precautionary suspension. The Ministry said that it was not in a position to disclose the nature of the allegations or charges. It stated: “We have a duty to respect employer-employee confidentiality. We will pronounce once the entire disciplinary process had run its course.” The Ministry insisted that suspension did not necessarily presume guilt on Mpolweni’s part. An acting DG will be appointed in due course. Last October, the United Democratic Movement’s (UDM’s) Bantu Holomisa shared a letter he had written to former Minister of Defense Thandi Modise regarding complaints he had received about Mpolweni. In his letter, Holomisa alleged that Mpolweni had made unilateral changes in service providers that had negatively impacted the delivery of services to veterans. He further alleged that the entire department had taken a cue from her lack of interest in serving military veterans. Holomisa also accused the DG of having a bias towards KwaZulu-Natal in her dealings with the military veterans. Some months later, the Umkhonto weSizwe Liberation War Veterans went on a media blitz, demanding a sweeping overhaul at the Military Veterans department and the removal of Mpolweni. Read the original of the report in the above regard at The Citizen. Read too, Military veterans department cites employer-employee confidentiality on reasons for DG's suspension, at TimesLive
Three Ekurhuleni cops arrested after allegedly kidnapping a supermarket employee and demanding bribe for his release News24 reports that three specialist Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) officers who allegedly kidnapped a supermarket employee and demanded a bribe for his release, have been charged with kidnapping, theft, extortion and defeating the ends of justice. It is alleged that the officers released the man after he had paid them and then lied in their statements. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) arrested the Boksburg truck hijackings specialised unit officers on Friday. IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping reported the three officers conducted a search operation at Smokes and Kings Supermarket in Rynfield, Benoni, in July last year and that boxes of cigarettes worth R25,000 were seized. While confiscating the cigarettes, the officers allegedly disconnected the surveillance camera inside the shop. The cigarettes were loaded onto an EMPD van and the supermarket employee was put in a separate official vehicle. The officers then drove to Northmead with the supermarket employee under the pretext that he was under arrest. Allegedly, they then demanded money and a cellphone for his release. The man handed over R200 notes he had in his possession and he was then dropped off. The officers allegedly booked in only two boxes of cigarettes at the Benoni police station. Their statements indicated that the goods were found at the property of an unknown owner and that a suspect ran away when he saw them. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cebelihle Mthethwa at News24
Possible criminal charges for former Tshwane mayor over fake insolvency rehabilitation certificate IOL reports that former Tshwane mayor Dr Murunwa Makwarela may face both fraud and perjury charges after submitting a fake insolvency rehabilitation certificate in order to retain his mayoral position. Cope’s Makwarela was voted in as mayor on 1 March following the resignation of the DA’s Randall Williams. Makwarela was then removed as mayor due to being insolvent on 7 March, but was reinstated two days later after he submitted an insolvency rehabilitation certificate. A day later, the certificate was discovered upon investigation to be fake. Makwarela resigned as the executive mayor and a councillor when the North Gauteng High Court revealed that his debt rehabilitation certificate was indeed fake. The multiparty coalition led by the DA laid charges of fraud against the former mayor at the Brooklyn police station on Friday. Attorney Nthabiseng Dubazana commented: “Fraudulent court documents fall under the crime of perjury so what would happen is that the registry of the court would investigate and should they find that perhaps there was a matter relating to the former mayor and that matter remains unresolved, meaning that he was not rehabilitated, then it would mean that they made a fraudulent announcement of a court order and they would face criminal charges.” He added: “This means they would face charges of fraud and they would also face charges of perjury for their misrepresentation of the true facts.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sisipho Bhuta at IOL. Lees ook, Tshwane-burgemeester se sertifikaat glo vervals, by Maroela Media
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